Eat these comfort foods during fever to feel better

Dealing with fever is an uphill struggle as it completely drains your body of energy, making you weak and fragile. In such a scenario, your body needs food items that can are easy to digest but provide energy at the same time. Choosing the right kind of food items is essential to get back on the road to recovery. Avoid fried, creamy and sugary items at this point and instead, stick to the below-given food items. They will not only make you feel better but will energise your body to fight off the fever.

Chicken Soup is the most recommended dish during fever. The hot fluids will soothe you and the protein content will energies your body.

Ingredients required- 500 gm shredded chicken, 1-litre chicken stock, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 celery sticks, 1 tablespoon parsley, 1 teaspoon cornflour, salt and pepper as per taste.

Method-

• Chop onion, carrot and celery finely. Heat butter in a pan, add the veggies and saute for a while.
• Meanwhile, add chicken to another pot along with water. Let it boil until completely cooked.
• Add the sauteed veggies to the chicken pot. Dilute cornflour in 1 spoon of water and add it to the pot.
• Simmer for 10 more minutes. Add salt and pepper as per taste. Garnish with finely chopped parsley and serve hot.

Besan Sheera is an age-old remedy to bring relief from cold, cough and fever. You must have seen your grandmother making it. It soothes an itchy throat, opens up a blocked nose and brings relief from fever.

Ingredients required- 1 tbsp ghee, 2 tbsp besan, 1 cup milk, 1 tbsp powdered jaggery or brown sugar, ¼ tsp black pepper powder and a pinch of turmeric.

Method-

• Heat ghee in a pan. Now add besan and mix it well with the ghee.
• Let it cook till it starts turning golden-brown and gives a nutty aroma.
• Now add milk in batches and stir continuously to prevent the formation of lumps.
• Add black pepper powder and turmeric.
• Keep stirring and let the mixture come to a boil.
• Once done, transfer to a cup and drink hot.

The protein content in eggs gives you energy, while the vitamins B6 and B12, zinc and selenium strengthens your immunity. The easiest way to have eggs during fever is by boiling them and making an egg salad.

Ingredients required- 2 boiled eggs, 2 tablespoon onion, 2 tablespoon tomato, 2 tablespoon capsicum, 2 pinches of black pepper and 2 pinches of salt.

Method-

• Dice one egg into eight equal parts.
• Sprinkle a pinch of black pepper and salt on it.
• Repeat the step with the other egg. Put them in a bowl.
• Add chopped onions, tomatoes and capsicum.
• Mix well and enjoy.

Khichdi is a wholesome meal that is the quintessential fever food. It is so easy to make and tastes absolutely amazing. You can pair it up with some coriander leaves, lemon juice and savour it with some mint chutney or curd on the side.

Ingredients required- ½ cup dal, ½ cup rice, ½ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp jeera, 1 bay leaf, 2 cloves, 2 cups of water and salt as per taste.

Method-

• Heat ghee in a cooker, add bay leaf and cloves in it. Saute for a few seconds.
• Now add jeera and let it crackle for a minute.
• Add washed dal and rice and mix well.
• Lastly, add turmeric and water.
• Mix well and put the lid on along with the whistle.
• Keep the flame medium and let it cook for 3 whistles.
• Once cooked, serve and savour.

Sooji Upma can be easily digested and is the perfect comfort food during fever. It contains carbs that provide energy to your body. You can add veggies to it if you want and make the dish more nutritious.

Ingredients required- 2 cups of water, 1 cup of sooji, 1 tablespoon mustard seeds, 10 curry leaves, 1 tablespoon channa dal, 1/4 cup boiled peas and 1 carrot, 2 tablespoon ghee and salt as per taste.

Method-

• Heat ghee in a pan. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves and chana dal. Let them crackle for 1-2 minutes.
• Now add chopped carrots and boiled peas. Mix well.
• Now add sooji and mix well. Let it roast for another 3-4 minutes. Keep stirring it to ensure the sooji doesn’t burn.
• Once the sooji turns golden-brown, add water while continuously stirring the mixture. This is to ensure that there is no lump formation.
• Add salt as per taste and mix well. Cook for 4-5 minutes more until the upma thickens a bit. Keep the consistency medium and switch off the flame.
• Serve it with coconut chutney or mint chutney.